Event organiser: who really is the Swiss army knife of the events industry?
Although the profession of event organiser can be found under a variety of names (event manager, evening organiser, wedding planner, régisseur d'événementiel, event planner, event manager, etc.), the tasks, and above all the strategic and operational qualities required, remain the same.), the tasks, and above all the strategic and operational qualities required, remain the same.
A true "conductor of the orchestra", the event organiser designs, manages and promotes an event project to a target audience on behalf of a client.
It is this wide range of tasks that makes the profession increasingly attractive to many students and professionals looking for a career change or career development.
Interested in becoming an event manager? Find out what training you need to get into this career, and what skills you'll need, by reading the full job description.
The job description of an event organiser
What does an event organiser do?
An event organiser has a wide range of tasks to perform, and there are specific ones depending on the area in which they specialise.
For example, a wedding planner will not have to deal with the same constraints as a sports event organiser or a professional event organiser.
Nevertheless, the main tasks of an event planner are as follows:
☑️ Responding to invitations to tender in the events sector and drafting commercial proposals.
☑️ Devising the concept for the event (gala, trade show, concert, team building, etc.), taking into account the client's objectives, budget and constraints.
☑️ Maintain constant communication with the customer, so as to always respond to their expectations and concerns.
☑️ Manage the entire logistical organisation of the event:
- finding the venue,
- setting up a catering service,
- preparing the various events and presentations, etc.
☑️ Selecting the service providers, suppliers and participants at the event.
☑️ Ensure that the various contracts and arrangements comply with the regulations.
☑️ Monitor the event's budget and administrative management.
☑️ Coordinate all those involved in the event, i.e. :
- your team,
- external service providers (caterers, photographers, musicians, sound engineers, hosts and hostesses, etc.),
- the various speakers.
☑️ Implement a communication and promotion strategy before, during and after the event, to raise its profile with the public.
☑️ Use technological tools and social networks to promote the above-mentioned communication strategy.
☑️ Measure the success of your objectives and customer satisfaction, and adjust your strategy and working methods if necessary.
☑️ Keep a constant watch on the events sector, so as to keep abreast of the latest innovations and trends.
Pixabay/rcokting
How do I become an event organiser?
The most commonly recommended training courses for becoming an event organiser are as follows:
- a BTS or DUT (2-year higher education diploma) in communications or business,
- a professional degree or bachelor's degree (bac + 3) in event communication,
- a master's degree (bac + 5) in communications. The latter offers the advantage of easier access to the post of events project manager, without having to work as an assistant.
Here are just a few examples of schools offering training to become an event organiser:
- Tunon International School and its Bachelor in PR and Event Management,
- LéCOLE and its Event Manager course,
- ISEFAC and its Bachelor in Event Project Management.
Finally, some organisations, such as the CNFDI, offer distance learning courses in event organisation.
☝️ As with many professions, experience in the field is essential. Some people have been promoted to event organiser positions without necessarily having the qualifications listed above.
Where do event organisers work?
☑️ In an events agency, communications agency or advertising agency. This type of working environment is particularly popular with those who want to vary their assignments and discover new sectors. This type of structure means, for example, that you can work one day for a local authority and the next for a major ready-to-wear brand.
☑️ In companies. Some large companies, or those that focus part of their strategy on events, may have their own event planner as part of their communications department. In this configuration, the event organiser has the opportunity to acquire solid expertise in his or her sector.
☑️ As a freelance. A true "Swiss army knife", he or she will already have experience of a wide range of activities and positions in the world of events. From the customer's point of view, using a freelancer means greater flexibility and generally lower rates.
What skills does an event organiser have?
- project management
- budget management
- management techniques
- sales techniques
- negotiation techniques,
- mastery of new technologies,
- communication and marketing,
- fluency in a foreign language, particularly English.
What are the qualities of an event organiser?
- Availability (event organisers work long hours and don't count the hours),
- resistance to stress (dealing with the unexpected is an integral part of the event planner's daily routine),
- versatility,
- organisation,
- creativity,
- adaptability,
- ability to work as part of a team,
- diplomacy,
- interpersonal skills,
- listening skills.
How does the job of event organiser develop?
There is no clear-cut career path for event organisers, as the range of their tasks and skills is so broad.
However, there are a number of ways in which you can develop your skills in this profession:
- By working for increasingly prestigious events, or on behalf of well-known artists or shows/festivals.
- By specialising in certain types of event (fashion and luxury goods, weddings, trade fairs, etc.).
- Opening your own events agency.
What does an event organiser earn?
Salaries in the events sector are quite varied and depend, of course, very much on the experience and the type of organisation the event planner works for.
However, here's an idea of how much they earn:
- for a junior profile 👉 around €2,000 gross per month,
- for a senior profile 👉 around €3,000 gross per month.
The event organiser's toolbox
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the tools used by event organisers on a daily basis.
Project management software
🛠️ Trello or Asana, for example.
Event software
🛠️ Prezevent or LabEvent, for example.
Email marketing software
🛠️ Mailjet or MailChimp, for example.
Social network management software
🛠️ Buffer or HootSuite, for example.
Event organiser: a constantly changing job
By now you've grasped the ins and outs of the job of event organiser... but it would be a mistake to think that the job is set in stone!
Let's not forget that one of the main objectives of the profession is to win over an increasingly demanding public at all costs. And this is only possible if the event planner keeps abreast of trends and technological developments that are likely to strike a chord with the target audience. That's why it's part of the event planner's day-to-day work to keep abreast of the latest developments.
Personalisation, immersion (using augmented reality in particular), eco-responsibility, collaboration... these are just some of the avenues to be explored, heralding new promises and challenges for event organisers.
Article translated from French